Boss may appeal Pearce red

The defender was sent off very early in our defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, and while Adkins was open to the suggestion it could have been a foul, he was adamant that the position of covering defender Kaspars Gorkss meant it was not a clear goalscoring opportunity and therefore not worthy of a red.

A decision can only be overturned if the FA determine that the referee made a clear error, and it remains to be seen whether we contact the FA by Monday lunchtime to lodge our appeal.

Adkins said, "I'll do everything I can to appeal it.

"To be honest, if he gives the penalty then you can live with that. The issue is the red card because he shouldn't have sent him off.

"At the time I probably thought it was a penalty, but the video is inconclusive and I hope we can find a better angle. It doesn't look a penalty to me and when I asked Pearcey he said he didn't touch him.

"Then, how he can send Pearce off when Kaspars makes a challenge as he goes to ground... I just can't understand it.

"But the fact is the referee's given it and it's a shame for the players and for Pearcey."

If the suspension is upheld, Pearce will miss next weekend's trip to Queens Park Rangers. Although it was a straight red card, the punishment for denying a goal scoring opportunity is one game (with a three game ban reserved for violent conduct).